The Registration Department in Kerala started functioning from 1st Dhanu 1043ME, in the Travancore area, from 1st Edavam 1050ME in the Cochin area and from 1st January 1865 AD in the Malabar area. Three units have been integrated to form the present Registration Department from 1st November 1956 and the Registration Act, 1908 is in force throughout the State.

 Objectives of the law of Registration:- Registration law governs documents rather than transactions. The main objects of law of registration are,

• to provide a conclusive proof of genuiness of documents;
• to afford publicity of transaction in respect of properties
• to prevent fraud
• to afford facility for ascertaining whether a property has already been dealt with; and
• to afford security of the title deeds and facility of proving titles in case the original deeds are lost or destroyed.

The Registration Act, 1908.
The Registration Rules (Kerala), 1958.
The Kerala Stamp act, 1959.
The Kerala Stamp Rules, 1960.
The Indian Stamp Act, 1899.
The Indian Stamp (Kerala) rules, 1960.
The Special Marriage Act, 1954.
The Kerala chitties Act,1975
Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act,1955
The Kerala Non-Trading Companies Act,1961
The Indian partnership Act,1932
The prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes banning Act, 1978
The Kerala Document writers’ License Rules, 1960

 The Registration Department is a service-oriented department. But recently it has become revenue collection oriented department, which inseparably and inextricably connected with the society at large from "cradle to grave". Inspector General of Registration is the Head of the  Department. Joint Inspector General of Registration in the central office is assisting the inspector General in all Departmental matters.

The Office of the Inspector General of Registration is the Central Office of the Department .The Inspector General of Registration is the Head of Department. The Joint Inspector General of Registration, Administrative Officer, Finance Officer, Law Officer, Assistant Inspector General of Registration (Chit Schemes) Assistant Inspector General of Registration (Administration) and Deputy Inspector General of Registration (Licensing), head the eleven sections in the Central Office to assist the Inspector General of Registration.

 The scheme is intended to provide for the welfare of the Document Writers, Scribes and Stamp Vendors with twin benefits, ie. Lump sum payment to the family of a member in the event of death with in the membership and lump sum payment on retirement after a membership in the scheme for 40 years or on attainment of 65 years of age whichever is earlier.

The Department is divided into four zones under the control of each Deputy InspectorGeneral of Registration
(Trivandrum,Ernakulam,Trissur,Kozhikode)
1. South Zone: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta Districts.
    HeadQuarters:Thiruvananthapuram.
2. South Central Zone: Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki and  Alappuzha.      
    HeadQuarters:Ernakulam
3. North Central zone: Trichur, Palakkad and Malappuram Districts.
    HeadQuarters:Thrissur.
4. North zone: Kozhikode, Kannur Wayanad and Kasargod Districts.
    Head Quarters: Kozhikode.